• 9 Palestinians, including a child and an elderly farmer, were killed by IOF in the Gaza Strip.

• 33 Palestinians, including 21 civilians, were wounded by IOF in the Gaza Strip.

• A Palestinian child was wounded by IOF in Jenin refugee camp.

• IOF conducted 34 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, and 8 into the Gaza Strip.

• IOF razed 606 donums[1] of agricultural in the central and southern Gaza Strip.  

• IOF demolished 10 houses, 5 bird farms, 5 stores, a slaughterhouse, a brick factory and a stone factory in the Gaza Strip.

• IOF arrested 41 Palestinian civilians, including 12 children, in the West Bank, and arrested 16 others in the Gaza Strip.

• IOF raided schools and mosques, destroyed 4 cars and confiscated a number of computers during a military operation in Qalqilya.

• IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT.

• IOF have isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.

• 3 Palestinian civilian were arrested by IOF at military checkpoints in the West Bank.

• IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attacks Palestinian civilians and property.

• IOF ordered the demolition of 10 houses in Bethlehem districts.

• Israeli settlers attacked schoolchildren in Hebron.  

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law seriously escalated in the OPT, especially in the Gaza Strip, during the reporting period (22 – 28 May 2008):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed 9 Palestinians, including a child and an elderly farmer, and wounded 33 others, including 7 children, in the Gaza Strip. A child was also wounded by IOF in the West Bank.

On 22 May, IOF killed an elderly Palestinian during an incursion into Gaza Valley village in the central Gaza Strip. They left him bleeding to death. On the same day, IOF killed a Palestinian child and wounded 16 civilians, including 6 children, when they used excessive force against a demonstration organized near al-Mentar (Karni) crossing, east of Gaza City, in protest at the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip.

On 23 May, IOF killed 3 activists of the Palestinian resistance and wounded a fourth during an incursion into al-Fukhari village, southeast of Khan Yunis. On the same day, IOF shot dead a Palestinian farmer in the northern Gaza Strip. Also on the same day, IOF killed 2 activists of the Palestinian resistance during an incursion into al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.

On 24 May, IOF wounded 8 activists of the Palestinian resistance in al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis, and al-Sha’af neighborhood in the east of Gaza City.

On 27 May, IOF wounded a Palestinian child in the east of Gaza City. On 28 May 2007, IOF killed 2 activists of the Palestinian resistance and wounded 6 Palestinians, including 3 civilian, during an incursion into al-Shouka village, northeast of Rafah, and al-Fukhari village, southeast of Khan Yunis.

In the West Bank, a Palestinian child was wounded by IOF gunfire during an incursion into Jenin refugee camp.   

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 34 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. IOF arrested 38 Palestinian civilians, including 12 children. Thus, the number of Palestinian civilians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of 2008 has mounted to 1,224. The widest of those incursions was into Qalqilya town and continued for 24 hours. During that incursion, IOF arrested 10 Palestinian civilians, raided schools and mosques, destroyed 4 cars and confiscated a number of computer sets.  

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 8 incursions into Palestinian communities. During these incursions, IOF razed at least 606 donums of agricultural land, demolished 10 houses, 5 bird farms, 5 stores, a slaughterhouse, a brick factory and a paving stone factory. They also arrested 16 Palestinian civilians.

Restrictions on Movement: IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

Gaza Strip

IOF have continued to close all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for almost two years. The IOF siege of Gaza which has tightened since June 2007 has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, and has violated the human, economic and social rights of the approximately 1.5 million Palestinian civilian population, particularly their rights to appropriate living conditions, health and education. The siege has also paralyzed the Gazan economy. In addition, the siege has severely impacted the flow of food, medical supplies and other necessities such as fuel, construction materials and raw materials for various economic sectors. IOF have continued to prevent the entry of raw materials into the Gaza Strip, and many factories have been forced to close. Severe restrictions have been imposed on the movement of the entire Palestinian civilian population. Regarding civilian movements, IOF permit very few Palestinian civilians to pass through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in order to travel to the West Bank or Israel. Rafah International Crossing Point in the southern Gaza Strip is the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world via a country other than Israel. IOF have closed Rafah International Crossing Point, even though they do not directly control it. They have prevented European observers working at the crossing point from reaching it. IOF also imposes restrictions on the access of fishermen to sea, using force to impose severe restrictions on their rights to fish on their own coastline.

West Bank

Contrary to Israeli claims of easing restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians, IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinians throughout the West Bank. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to Jerusalem. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays to prevent them from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF often violently assault Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. IOF have also tightened the siege imposed on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF also erected more checkpoints on the main roads and intersections in the West Bank. During the reporting period, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 2 Palestinian civilians.

Settlement Activities: IOF have continued settlement activities and Israeli settlers living in the OPT have, in violation of international humanitarian law, continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. During the reporting period, IOF handed notices to a number of civilians in Bethlehem district informing them that 9 houses, 3 stores and water tank would be demolished under the pretext of the lack of licenses. On 22 May 2008, Israeli settlers attacked a school in the old town of Hebron. A teacher and a child were injured.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (22 – 28 May 2008)

1.      Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip

Thursday, 22 May 

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-'Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian children:

1.      Mohammed Akram Shihab, 16

2.      Diaa’ Akram Shihab, 14.

·      At approximately 01:45, IOF move into Bouqin Valley village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Ibrahim Hussein Jaber, 46

2.      Nour al-Din Yousef Qabaha, 20

3.      Yousef 'Abdul Latif 'Owaidat, 21.

·      At approximately 02:00, an IOF infantry unit moved nearly 1,500 meters into Gaza Valley village in the central Gaza Strip. IOF troops raided and searched the building of the local council and its subordinate cultural center. They damaged the building. They then raided and searched Qissaria Secondary School. At approximately 03:00, IOF troops fired gunshots and a tank shell at Salem 'Atwat Allah 'Ouda al-'Bahabsa, 63, when he was riding an animal cart towards his land. He was injured by a gunshot to the left foot and shrapnel to the left shoulder. He bled to death. Later, IOF moved heavy military vehicles moved into the area. At approximately 09:00, IOF troops called on male Palestinians living in the area to leave their homes and gather in on the yard of Qissaria Secondary School. IOF troops held those Palestinians until 22:00, when they released them all excluding Riad Mohammed Abu 'Ayada, 29. IOF withdrew from the village at approximately 01:00 on the following day, leaving extensive damage:

1.      They razed 370 donums of agricultural land planted with olives, citrus, almonds and plums.

2.      They destroyed 5 bird farms and killed at least 5,000 chickens.

3.      They destroyed 5 agricultural stores.

·      At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into 'Arraba village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 13:00, at least 5,000 Palestinian civilians organized a rally that moved from the center of Gaza City towards al-Mentar (Karni) crossing, east of the city, in protest to the siege imposed by IOF on the Gaza Strip. As soon as those civilians arrived at the vicinity of the crossing, IOF troops opened fire at them. As a result, Hussein 'Abdul Karim Ahel, 16, was killed by a gunshot to the abdomen, and at least 16 others, including 6 children, were wounded.

·      At approximately 21:30, IOF moved into al-Sheikh quarter in the center of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Hamed al-Zagheer. No arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into Dura and Deir Samet village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

Friday, 23 May

·      At approximately 00:30, IOF infantry units moved nearly 1,500 meters into al-Fukhrai area near Sofa crossing, southeast of Khan Yunis. IOF troops raided and searched a number of houses and transformed them into military sites. An hour later, IOF tranks moved into the area. IOF used megaphones to male Palestinians aged over 15 to eave their homes, and detained them when they did. IOF bulldozers started to raze areas of agricultural land. At approximately 07:00, an IOF aircraft fired 2 missiles at 6 activists of the Palestinian resistance, who were approximately 2,000 away from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. Four activists were wounded. The remaining two activists were not hurt and they were able to evacuate one of their colleagues who had been injured. The other three activists, who were seriously wounded and bleeding, remained in the area as ambulances were not able to reach them. When IOF withdrew from the area at approximately 11:30, residents of the area found the 3 activists dead. Their bodies were evacuated to Abu Yousef al-Najjah Hospital in Rafah, where they were identified as:

1.      Muhannad Hamed 'Awad, 20

2.      Ibrahim Fareed Madi, 18

3.      Mohammed Hafez Abu Rezeq, 25.

During their incursion into the area, IOF destroyed the slaughterhouse of the Municipality of Khan Yunis, and a factory of concrete belonging to Hamdan Mohammed Abu Daqqa, in which 40 employees were working. Additionally, IOF razed a 97-donum area of agricultural land and damaged 2 houses. They further arrested 5 Palestinian civilians, but later released them.  

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Ramallah and al-Bireh. They patrolled the streets and opened fire. Neither casualties nor arrests were reported.

·      Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Ramallah and al-Bireh. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire. Neither casualties nor arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 07:00, IOF troops positioned at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at a number of Palestinian farmers in al-Ghazalat area near the crossing. One of those farmers, 24-year-old 'Atwa al-Jarab’a, was wounded by shrapnel in the left leg.

·      At approximately 20:30, IOF moved into Deir Samet village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Isma’il 'Ouda al-Hroub, 28.

Saturday, 24 May

·      At approximately 00:20, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They patrolled the streets and opened fire. At approximately 02:15, IOF troops fired a number of incendiary bombs at a restaurant in al-Qauds Street in the east of Nablus, which belongs to Mahmoud Hashem Abu Halima. Fire broke out in the restaurant. According to Abu Halima’s brother, who lives above the restaurant, he told IOF troops that he had keys to the restaurant, but they shelled it. IOF troops prevented fire engines from reaching the area until 04:00, and the restaurant was completely destroyed. IOF troops claimed that they were fired at from alleys located near the restaurant. IOF also destroyed a car belonging to Bassam Zaki Abu Mustafa in the center of Balata refugee camp.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They patrolled the streets and opened fire at a Palestinian police station in the south of the town. No casualties were reported. IOF troops raided and searched a number of houses and opened fire indiscriminately in Jenin refugee camp. As a result, 16-year-old As’ad 'Ali al-Dumaj, was wounded by shrapnel from gunshots to the chest and the right arm, when IOF raided his family’s house while he was sleeping. IOF troops also arrested Fares 'Abdullah al-Swaiti.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Abu Qash village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved nearly 700 meters into al-Zanna areas in al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. The leveled areas of agricultural land. At approximately 16:00, IOF fired a tank shell at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance. Two activists were wounded.

·      At approximately 16:15, IOF moved nearly 800 meters into the east of Gaza City. They partially demolished a house belonging to al-Shawa family and a cleaning company, and completely destroyed a brick factory, a stone factory and 2 agricultural store-rooms. During this incursion, IOF arrested 10 Palestinian civilians. They interrogated them and released 6 of them later, but kept the remaining 4 civilians in custody:

1.      Hussam Subhi Helles, 29

2.      Mahmoud Subhi Helles, 28

3.      Ahmed Subhi Helles, 23

4.      Mohammed Subhi Helles, 27.

·      At approximately 18:30, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance in al-Sha’af area in the east of Gaza City. Six activists were wounded.

·      At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into Zeita village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire. They stopped and checked a number of Palestinian civilians, and arrested 17-year-old Tha’er Mahmoud Abu Sharqiya.

Sunday, 25 May   

·      At approximately 00:25, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring 'Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 01:15, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

·      Also at approximately 01:15, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 20:00, IOF moved into Zeita village, north of Tulkarm. They opened fire at Palestinian civilians and houses. Before leaving the village, IOF troops arrested 3 Palestinian children:

1.      Wa’el Mowaffaq Hamza, 16

2.      Hamdan Nasser Mubarak, 16

3.      Tayseer Ahmed Balqis, 17.

Monday, 26 May  

·      At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into al-Yamoun village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

·      Also at approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Kufor Dan village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 09:30, IOF moved nearly 500 meters into al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. They razed 70 donums of agricultural land planted with olives.

Tuesday, 27 May

·      At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into the east of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Nayef al-Hashlamoun, 48, a cameraman of Reuters news agency, in Namera neighborhood. They handed a written notice to al-Hashlamoun summoning his son, 18-year-old Firas, for interrogation. 

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They raided and searched dozens of houses, a cemetery, a mosque, a car park and 3 schools. They confiscated 3 computers and an amount of 200 NIS (approximately US$ 60) from houses belonging to Khalil Abu 'Awad and Jamal Jibara. They also damaged 4 cars. Additionally, IOF demolished a fence of a booth belonging to Mohammed Hassan al-Samman. A few hours later, IOF troops fired tear gas canisters at school children while on their way to schools. At least 10 children suffered from tear gas inhalation. By 01:00 on the following day, when they withdrew from the town, IOF had arrested 10 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Mohammed Isma’il Badra, 25;

2.      Mohammed Akram al-Hassan, 23;

3.      Yasser Mohammed Daoud, 21;

4.      'Abdullah 'Azzam Daoud, 22;

5.      Khalil Mustafa Abu 'Awad, 30;

6.      Hamza Hussam Abu Sabra, 29;

7.      Khamis Lahham 'Olayan, 28;

8.      'Abdullah Mahmoud al-Masri, 29;

9.      Mohammed 'Aadel 'Enaya, 24

10.  Haitham Ghaleb al-Aqra’, 29.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child, from the refugee camp:

1.      Mohammed Khaled Hashash, 16

2.      Bassem Hamed Hashash, 16.

·      Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses,. No arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 05:00, IOF gunboats intercepted 6 Palestinian fishing boats, on which 16 fishermen were sailing, opposite to Rafah coast. IOF troops forced the fishermen to jump into water and swim towards one of the gunboats. IOF troops handcuffed and interrogated the fishermen, but released them at approximately 11:30. IOF troops threatened the fishermen not to go fishing again.

·      At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Ematin village, east of Qalqilya. They besieged some agricultural fields and arrested Rezeq 'Abdul Fattah Ghanem, 30, and Mousa Sidqi Sawan, 15, while they were cultivating wheat.

Wednesday, 28  

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF infantry units moved into al-Shouka area, northeast of Rafah, and al-Fukhari area, southeast of Khan Yunis. IOF troops raided a number of houses and transformed them into military sites. Soon after, IOF heavy military vehicles moved at least 2,000 meters into the two areas. At approximately 08:50, IOF droned fired 3 missiles at a number of Palestinians, including activists of the Palestinian resistance. Two civilians and a resistance activist were wounded. The two civilians are:

1.      Nidal 'Ameera al-'Omour, 29, wounded by shrapnel

2.      Ahmed Mohammed al-'Omour, 24, wounded by shrapnel to the head 

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed 'Eissa Hamdan, 20, and arrested him.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Shawawra village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed 'Eissa Dairiya, 22, and arrested him.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children:

1.      Yousef Ibrahim al-Asmar, 17;

2.      Ahmed 'Abdul Salam Mosa’ed, 17;

3.      Fares Samer Diab, 18;

4.      Hilal Zahi Zahran, 23;

5.      Ameer Hassan Ya’ish, 21.

·      Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Sawia village, south of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to Subhi Ref’at Daraghma, 22.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Shadi Sami Zakarna, 20.

·      Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Bani Na’im village, east of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Yazan Yasser Manasra, 19, and arrested him.

·      At approximately 03:00, IOF moved nearly 2,500 meters into al-Shouka village, east of Rafah. They took up position on Salah al-Din road, which links between Rafah and Khan Yunis towns. At approximately 09:50, an IOF aircraft fired 2 missiles at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance in Um al-Nasser village, northeast of Rafah. An activist, Ussama Shihda al-Ghouti, 33, from Rafah, was killed. A civilian bystander, 18-year-old Ma’ath Tariq Abu al-Hussain, was wounded. Approximately half an hour later, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at an activist of Palestinian resistance, 'Abdul Raziq Mohammed Mo’ammar, 34, from Rafah, in a close area. He was instantly killed. At approximately 15:30, IOF withdrew from al-Shouka village after arresting 12 Palestinian civilians, demolishing a number of houses and razing areas of agricultural land.

·      At approximately 08:30, IOF troops positioned near Nahal Ouz crossing, east of Gaza City, fired at 2 Palestinian children who were collecting metal from an area near the crossing. One of the children, 17-year-old Younis Mohsen Maqat, from Jabalya town, was wounded by a gunshot to the left shoulder and 2 others to the thighs. Workers at the crossing evacuated him to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.

·      At approximately 12:00, an IOF undercover unit moved into al-Saf Street in Bethlehem. IOF troops soon arrested Khaled 'Ali 'Asakra, 19. Soon after, IOF military vehicles moved into the town to secure the withdrawal of the undercover unit.

·      At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into Salem village, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian children:

1.      Eyad Fawaz Eshtayeh, 17; and

2.      'Ammar Hamdan Shraim, 17.

2.      Continued Siege on the OPT

IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Occupied East Jerusalem.

Gaza Strip

IOF have continued to impose a siege on the 1.5 million civilians of the Gaza Strip. The 6 border crossings of the Strip have been closed for almost two years as part of IOF’s collective punishment policy, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of civilians and goods. As a result, the territory is unable to secure its basic needs of food, medicine, and other supplies, pushing the poverty rate above 80%.

The continued Israeli ban on fuel supplies required for civilian life in the Gaza Strip has led to the paralysis of the educational sector. In addition, the health sector is on the verge of collapse due to ambulances being forced to operate without sufficient fuel. Healthcare facilities have registered a 25% drop in clients due to the transport crisis, and hundreds of healthcare professionals have been unable to reach their work places. Furthermore, the transportation sector has almost ceased functioning throughout the Gaza Strip, resulting in massively reduced essential services, including the delivery of drinking water delivery, sewage water disposal, and garbage collection.

Over the past 4 months, IOF have been allowing a very limited number of seriously ill patients and staff of international organizations to pass through Beit Hanoun (Erez) checkpoint. The Gaza Strip remains isolated from the West Bank and the outside world.

The tightened siege has led to the collapse of the Gaza Strip economy sectors. Most production facilities have ceased to operate due to the siege and restriction on movement of goods and individuals.

Impacts of the Israeli siege imposed on the Gaza Strip:

·       Livings conditions of the population have continued to deteriorate due to the shortages in foodstuffs and medicines and the sharp increase of prices due to the siege.

·       At least 900 Gazans who are detained in IOF jails have been deprived of family visitation for a year.  

·       The average number of patients allowed to travel from the Gaza Strip to hospitals in the West Bank or Israel has decreased from 50 to 13.

·       2 patients recently died having been denied access to medical treatment outside the Gaza Strip.

·       Fuel supplies have sharply decreased; only 0.5% of the daily need of benzenes, 12.8% of the daily need of diesel and 17% of the daily need of cooking gas have been allowed into the Gaza Strip since October 2007.

·       The lack of fuel led to the flooding of the sewage treatment plant in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City for several hours, during which time raw sewage poured into streets and houses and onto agricultural land.

·       Water treatment plants continue to operate at partial capacity.

·       At least 250,000 of the population have received water supplies for decreased hours daily due to the shortages in fuel necessary for the operation of wells.

·       At least 35 sewage treatment plants have almost run out of fuel, and at least 50,000 cubic meters of untreated sewage water are pumped into the sea daily, which may cause environmental pollution.

·       The Municipality of Rafah have declared complete stoppage of its sanitation services due to the lack of fuel.     

Concerning the movement at Nahal Ouz crossing, east of Gaza City, which designed for the entry of fuels, during the reporting period, IOF allowed the entry of the following amounts of fuels:

During the reporting period, IOF partially reopened al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing for several hours on Tuesday, 27 May 2008, an allowed the entry of 2,400 tons of seeds and animal fodder.

Concerning the movement at Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah, during the reporting period, it was as shown in the following table:

Regarding Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border, the Egyptian authorities started to open it on a limited basis for some patients. The movement the crossing during the reporting period was as shown in the following table:

In the meantime, IOF have continued to close Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom crossing for more than 6 weeks.

The closure of border crossings deprives the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip of their right to freedom of movement, education and health. IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip. Following the attack on IOF on 25 June 2006, IOF prevented fishing. Approximately 35,000 people in and around Gaza’s coastal communities rely on the fishing industry, including 2,500 fishermen, 2,500 support staff and their families. Fishermen have been subjected to intensive monitoring by IOF, which use helicopter gunships and gunboats to monitor and harass the fishermen. The Oslo Accords permit Palestinian fishermen to fish up to 20 nautical miles from the Gaza seashore.

The West Bank

IOF have imposed a tightened siege on the West Bank. IOF have also continued to prevent Palestinians aged below 35 from passing through some checkpoints, especially in the northern West Bank. During the reporting period, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.

·      Jerusalem: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays to prevent them from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF often violently assault Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. IOF impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians on Fridays to restrict their access to the al-Aqsa Mosque.

·      Hebron: On Monday afternoon, 26 May, IOF troops positioned at military checkpoints in the vicinity of the Ibrahimi Mosque in the old town of Hebron and arrested Majdi Shaker al-Natsha, 39.  

·      Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They erected additional checkpoints on the main roads. On Sunday morning, 25 May 2008, IOF erected a checkpoint near al-Lubban village, south of Nablus. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians. On Tuesday May 27, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around the city imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They also erected more checkpoints and closed a number of roads.   

At approximately 08:00 on Monday, 26 May, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested Tariq Maher Zakarna, 22, a civil defense officer from Qabatya village southeast of Jenin.

·      Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 22 May, IOF troops positioned at Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians, who had to wait for several hours before being allowed to pass through the checkpoint. On Friday, 23 May 2008, IOF erected a checkpoint at the southern entrance of 'Attil village, north of Tulkarm. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians. On Saturday, 24 May 2008, IOF closed the eastern entrance of Zeita village, north of Tulkarm, for several hours, denying movement to and from the village. On Sunday, 25 May 2008, IOF closed Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, for 2 hours. On Monday, 26 May 2008, IOF closed Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tuilkarm, from 06:00 to 09:00. On Tuesday, 27 May 2008, IOF erected a checkpoint at the southern entrance of Deir al-Gossoun village, north of Tulkarm, and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians from the village to Tulkarm. On Wednesday, 28 May 2008, IOF erected a checkpoint near Far’oun intersection, south of Tulkarm, and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians from Far’oun and 'Izbat Shoufa village to Tulkarm.

·      Qalqilya: At approximately 18:00 on Friday, 23 May 2008, IOF troops positioned at a checkpoint to the east of Qalqilya arrested Hassan Mansour Zaid, 26.

3.     Construction of the Annexation Wall

IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside West Bank territory. During the reporting period, IOF used force against a peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to the construction of the Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah, and al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem.

·      Following the Friday Prayer on 23 May, scores of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders demonstrated in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the Wall. The demonstrators moved towards the Wall, but IOF closed all gates designed for crossing the Wall. The demonstrators then set fire to tires in protest to the closure of gates. Immediately, IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation.

·      Also following the Friday Prayer on 23 May, scores of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders demonstrated in al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem. The demonstrators moved towards Palestinian land which were confiscated by IOF. IOF troops placed barbwire near the land to prevent the demonstrators from moving forward. They also fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters and violently beat a number of demonstrators.

4.      Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property

IOF have continued settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

·      During the reporting period, IOF handed notices to a number of civilians in Bethlehem district informing them that their 9 houses, 3 stores and water tank would be demolished under the pretext of lack of licenses.

In al-Khader village, southwest of Bethlehem:

1.      A 220-square-meter, 4-storey house belonging to Ahmed Mahmoud Mousa;

2.      A 100-square-meter house belonging to Mohammed Suleiman Salah;

3.      A 200-square-meter, 2-storey house belonging to Ahmed Mahmoud Abu Hatab;

4.      A 120-square-meter house belonging to Ahmed Saleh Mousa; and

5.      A 75-square-meter house and a water tank belonging to 'Ali Saleem Mousa.

In Kherbat Zakaria area, southwest of Bethlehem:

1.      A 270-square-meter house belonging to Mohammed 'Atallah Sa’ad;

2.      A 200-square-meter house belonging to Ayman Khalil Sa’ad; and

3.      A 170-square-meter house belonging to Mohammed Mahmoud Sa’ad.

In Housan village, southwest of Bethlehem:

1.      A store of car cleaning belonging to Mohammed Younis 'Eissa; and

2.      2 stores belonging to Khalil 'Ouda al-Hamamra.

In Beit Jala town:

1.      A 100-square-meter house belonging to Yousef 'Eissa Msallam.

According to a report published by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) this week, Israeli authorities have issued at least 5,000 orders of demolitions of house in areas C in the West Bank since 2000, claiming that those houses were built without licenses. The Israeli Ministry of Defense, according to the report, rejected at least 94% of applications for licenses to build houses in areas C between 2000 and September 2007. Also according to the OCHA report, at least 1,600 Palestinian structures were demolished in the same period due to the lack of licenses, and construction is a major problem in areas C, which constitute nearly 60% of the total area of the West Bank. The report further noted that 3,000 structures in the West Bank area threatened by demolition, and they could be demolished at anytime without warning. In the first quarter of 2008, according to the report, Israeli authorities demolished 124 structures that lacked licenses, which is higher than the number of all demolitions in 2007, which was 107. Sixty one of those structures were inhabited, thus rendering 435 Palestinians, including 135 children, homeless.

·      At approximately 09:35 on Thursday, 22 May 2008, at least 10 Israeli settlers who live in settlement outposts in the center of Hebron threw stones at a number of school children and teachers of the Ibrahimiya Basic School in the old town following their final exams. IOF troops were present in the area, but did not intervene to stop the attack. A teacher and a child were injured: Nejem Mohammed al-Jamal, 12; and Mohammed Ibrahim Marrish, 25.

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Recommendations to the International Community

1.      PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to ensure Israel's respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.  PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as if it is above the law and encourages Israel continue to violate international human rights and humanitarian law.

2.      PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to convene a conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel's respect of the Convention in the OPT and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.

3.      PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with its legal obligations detailed in Article 146 of the Convention to search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.

4.      PCHR calls for the immediately implementation of the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, which considers the construction of the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank illegal.

5.      PCHR recommends international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations and NGOs to participate in the process of exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and to urge their governments to bring these people to justice.

6.      PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel.  PCHR further calls upon the EU states to prohibit import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPT.

7.      PCHR calls on the international community to recognize the Gaza disengagement plan, which was implemented approximately 3 years ago, for what it is - not an end to occupation but a compounding of the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. 

8.      In recognition of ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPT, including the facilitation of family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

9.      PCHR appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights organizations, bar associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel's respect for human rights in the OPT and to end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.

10.  PCHR calls upon the international community to pressure Israel to lift the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupation forces on access for international organizations to the OPT.

11.  PCHR reiterates that any political settlement not based on international human rights law and humanitarian law cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian question.  Rather, such an arrangement can only lead to further suffering and instability in the region.  Any peace agreement or process must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.

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Public Document

For further information please visit our website (http://www.pchrgaza.org) or contact PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email (pchr@pchrgaza.org) or telephone (+972 (0)8 2824776 – 2825893)

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